Sergio Aguero and Winston Reid
Reid needed treatment after clashing with Aguero. Getty

KEY POINTS

  • The Argentina international appeared to catch Reid with an elbow in City's 3-1 win.
  • The FA could decide to hand down a retrospective charge of violent conduct.
  • United host City in first Manchester derby of the season on 10 September.

Manchester City could lose Sergio Aguero for their crucial derby against Manchester United, should the FA take retrospective action against the striker for an alleged elbow on Winston Reid.

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In the 76<sup>th minute of City's 3-1 win over West Ham on Sunday 28 August, Aguero appeared to catch Reid with an elbow as the two challenged for a long ball, an incident which saw the Hammers defender forced off the pitch before he was eventually substituted. Referee Andre Marriner took no action during the match.

The FA now awaits Marinner's response. Should he state he did witness the incident and remains satisfied with his decision to take no action, English football's governing body may not charge the Argentine international.

However, should a charge of violent conduct be brought forward, a three-match ban awaits, immediately ruling Aguero out of the first Manchester derby of the season on Saturday 10 September at Old Trafford.

The 28-year-old would also miss the Premier League clash with Bournemouth and EFL third round tie with Swansea City.

The FA opted to take such action on a number of occasions last season. Chelsea striker Diego Costa was retrospectively charged with violent conduct after attacking Arsenal defenders Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel Paulista during a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge in September 2015.

Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was handed a three-match ban in a near-identical incident which also saw West Ham's Reid on the receiving end, catching the defender with an elbow in another Premier League match in December 2015. The incident was missed by match officials but picked up clearly on video.

United midfielder Marouane Fellaini and Leicester City defender Robert Huth were both handed three-match bans after accepting charges of violent conduct after clashing in May, while Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli missed the final three games of the 2015-16 season after he was caught on camera appearing to punch West Brom's Claudio Yacob in the stomach.

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